Arrowhead with pivoted blades

ABSTRACT

An arrow head having sharpened blades pivotally mounted in a slot in the head and constructed and arranged, in response to impact with and penetration into a target, to automatically pivot outwardly from a first position wherein the forwardly directed points of the blades are confined within the slot, to a second position wherein they are fully extended. Each blade is essentially planar and is provided with an integral radial extension or lug which in first position projects outwardly from the confines of the slot, and which may not only assist in pivoting it from first to second position, but also in cooperation with stop means fixed with the head, positively limit movement thereof to second position while permitting ready withdrawal of the head.

United States-Patent [72] Inventor Donald ll. Rickey 1521 Carlisle Ave., Richmond, Va. 23231 [21] Appl. No. 751,410 [22] Filed Aug. 9, 1968 [45] Patented May 11, 1971 [54] ARROWHEAD WITH PlVOTED BLADES 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[521 US. Cl .,273/106. 5(B) [51] Int. Cl F41b 5/02 [50] Field of Search 273/1065 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,289,284 7/1942 Chandler 273/106.5(B) 2,568,417 9/1951 Steinbacher 273/1065(B) 2,820,634 1/1958 Vance 273/106.5(B)

2,829,894 4/1958 l-lenkel 273/l06.5(B) 3,138,383 6/1964 McKinzie. 273/106.5(B)

Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorneys-Elizabeth Newton Dew and Dew and Dew ABSTRACT: An arrow head having sharpened blades pivotally mounted in a slot in the head and constructed and arranged, in response to impact with and penetration into a target, to automatically pivot outwardly from a first position wherein the forwardly directed points of the blades are confined within the slot, to a second position wherein they are fully extended. Each blade is essentially planar and is provided with an integral radial extension or lug which in first position Patented May 11, 1971 3,578,328

FIG.5.

IN VENTOR DOIWH-D H. Rumav AT TORNEYS ARROWIIEAD WITH PIVOTED BLADES This invention relatesto an arrow head and, more particularly to one equipped with cutting blades which-are pivotally mounted in a longitudinally and transversely-extending-slot therein.

It is a chief object of the invention to provide an arrow head of the type mentioned which, in the collapsed or retracted position of its blades, has normally balanced flight characteristics of speed, range and trajectory, but which on impact with and penetration into a target, such as an animal, acts automatically to pivot the blades to fully expanded or extended positions wherein their sharpened or cutting edges effect a lethal wound.

Another object is to provide an arrow head equipped with blades as aforesaid which are so shaped and disposed in retracted position, as to assist in assuring true flight of the arrow to the target.

A further object is to provide an arrow head of the type mentioned, wherein the blades are shaped to cooperate withmeans fixed with the head, to positively limit the blades to a predetermined pivotal position wherein they are fully extended and of maximum effectiveness.

Still another object is to provide a compact and highly effective arrow head wherein a pair of pins or rivets act not only to secure the head to its shaft, but also act to ,pivotally mount the blades and to limit their pivotal movement to the fully ,extended position.

Yet another object is to provide a missile of the type described'which is versatile and highly satisfactory and effective in use, capable of fabrication and assembly at relatively low cost per unit, which can be modified for a variety of uses, and which is a general advance in the art of expansible arrow heads.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become clear to those skilled in the art, after a study of the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing wherein the invention is shown to slightly magnified scale:

FIG. I isa side elevation of a complete arrow having a head embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation at right angles to FIG. I, ofthe head portion only, showing the. blades in collapsed or retracted positions;

FIG. 3 is a detail view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing the blades pivoted from their collapsed position toward fully ex tended position;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 but showing the blades pivoted still further toward their open or extended positions; 1

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 but showing the blades fully extended;

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing one of the two identical blades; and

FIG. 7 is a detail view showing the two blades pivoted together and in their fully collapsed pivotal relation.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in particular to FIG. I, l identifies the shaft of an arrow having fletching 2, and string notch 3. At its forward end, shaft 1 is tapered or reduced in size for a smooth fit within a shank or socket 5 forming an integral part of the head. Forwardly, the head includes a flattened and sharpened point 6. From FIG. 2 it is seen that the head also tapers forwardly in dimensions in the plane of this FIG. The edges of the point are sharpened.

As shown upon FIG. 1, a slot 7 extends completely through the head, in a central or axial plane normal to the plane of the flattened point 6. The slot extends in the longitudinal direction, from a forward terminus in part 6, rearwardly through the end of socket 5. The forward end of the shaft is slotted and in the assembled arrow, registers with slot 7. Two holes formed in and through the socket and slotted portion of the shaft, receive pins 8 and 9 with a smooth fit and act to secure the head to the shaft. Also, as subsequently described,

pin 8 acts to pivot the blades to the head, while pin 9 acts as a positive stop limiting their movement in fully outward or extended positions.

Pins or rivets 8 and 9 lie in a common plane through the central longitudinal axis of the head, in spaced parallel relation.

The two identical blades are identified at 10 and II, FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7. Both are located within slot 7 and are pivoted upon pin or rivet 8. Referring in particular to FIG. 6, blade 10 is shown to consist of a cutting or penetrating edge 12 which converges with a secondary edge I3 at point I4 defining the inner and forwardmost apex of a triangle. The main body of the blade is therefore generally triangular, the third side or edge being indicated at 15, as extending generally radially of pivot aperture 16. The intersection of edges I3 and I5 ofeach blade defines the inner and rearwardmost apex of the triangle, and the intersection of edges 12 and IS defines the outer and rearwardmost apex thereof. Referring to FIG. 7, a tubular rivet 22 passes through the apertures in the blades and is headed to prevent their separation, to afford the desired degree of friction between them, and to enable them to be assembled as a unit into the head. Pin 8 passes through this rivet, with a smooth fit.

Blade 10 also includes an abutment and stop lug 17 extending generally radially from pivot aperture 16 at the side thereof opposite edge 15. The lug is notched at its base, as indicated at 18. The construction and dimensions are such that a radius from aperture l6,.to an are passing centrally along notch I8, centered on aperture 16, has the same dimension as the distance of separation between pins 8 and 9, measured in the direction longitudinally along the shaft. Since blade 11 is identical with blade 10, it need not be described in detail.

Slot 7 has a transverse dimension to receive the'two blades with a smooth accurate fit. The blades are in face-to-face contact and are held together by rivet 22 with only a minor amount of friction. FIG. 7 clearly shows the position of the blades when fully collapsed within slot 7. In this position point I4 of blade 10 and the corresponding point [9 of blade 11 are closely spaced and their secondary edges 13 and 2 0, respectively, are essentially parallel and within the confines of the slot. But as shown at FIG. 2, the edges 12 and 23 of the blades extend outwardly arid are largely exposed. In this position also, lug I7 of blade I0 and 21 of blade 11 extend or project outwardly in diametrically opposite directions from the socket or base 5.

The notches such as 18 or blade 10 are so located that when each blade is pivoted outwardly to limiting position as in FIG. 5, its notch engages pin 9. Each blade is thus positively stopped in the desired position.

The use and operationof the improved arrow head will be generally clear from the foregoing description. Before launching, the archer makes sure that'the blades are in the described collapsed position and relation of FIG. 7. When the arrow is launched and during its flight to the target, the blades are maintained in collapsed position within the head, by the small amount of'friction between them. On impact with the target, such as a deer, point 6 first penetrates and, on continued penetration, the edges of blades 10 and II, namely, edges 12 and 23, respectively, begin entry and act in a manner clear from inspection of FIG. 2, to pivot blade 10 counterclockwise and blade 11 clockwise as viewed upon this FIG. As soon as points 14 and 19 emerge outwardly from the confines of the slot, they act and positively assist in effecting continued pivotal movement of the blades. In the final and extended position the blades are stopped by engagement of their lugs with pin 9, and effect a lethal wound. In some instances lugs 17 and 2], as the head penetrates the target, may assist in effecting pivotal movement of the blades. The arrow head may be readily withdrawn because the blades are free to pivot back to their positions shown at FIG. 7. When a clear path exists to the target, as when there are no intervening bushes or other vegetation, the arrow may be launched with the blades equally, and partially or wholly extended, to thus effect a stabilizing action in flight.

While l have thus disclosed the form of the invention presently preferred by me, numerous changes in shape, size, disposition and relations of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, after a study of the foregoing disclosure. Hence the'disclosure-should be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and I desire to reserve all modifications, alternations, and substitutions of equivalents, within the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, the edges such as 12 of blade may be curved or straight. Slot 7 may be entirely in socket and the latter secured to the shaft by threads or by adhesives.

lelaim:

1. An arrowhead having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and comprising; a tubular shank; a target penetrating point integral with said shank and flattened in a first plane through said axis, a longitudinal slot formed in said shank and the rear portion of said penetrating point; a pivot pin carried by said shank and extending transversely through said slot, and lying in the plane of said flattened penetrating point; first and second duplicate, generally right triangular, fiat blades fitting in said slot, each said blade being mounted on said pivot pin in face-to-face frictional contact with each other, for pivotal movement in respectively opposite directions between first and second positions; in said first position said blades being respectively reversely mounted on said pivot pin adjacent their respective inner and rearwardmost apex as defined by' the intersection of the two sides of said generally right triangle, with each having a respective cutting edge forming the hypotenuse of said generally right triangular blade extending from its respective inner and forwardmost apex to its respective outer and rearwardmost apex, with the forwardmost portions of said edges being within said slot, with cutting edges extending rearwardly and outwardly from said slot at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis, with each cutting edge on an opposite side of said first plane, and with a lug on each blade. adjacent the inner and rearwardmost apex of each blade and extending outwardly from said slot on the side of said plane opposite from its respective cutting edge portion; a second pin in said head positioned rearwardly from said pivot pin and extending transversely of said slot and parallel to said pivot pin; a notch in each lug adjacent its juncture with its respective blade and arranged to engage said second pin upon pivotal movement of said blade to said second position; whereby upon penetration of said arrowhead into a target, pressure on the cutting edge and lug of each of said blades causes it to pivot about said pivot pin towards the side of said plane opposite from the side on which each cutting edge respectively initially extends in said first position of the blade until the notches in said lugs engage said second pin to stop said blades with said cutting edges facing generally forward.

2. The arrowhead of claim I, said head including a longitudinally-extending tubular socket formed in said shank, said slot opening through the rearward end of said shank, a shaft having a forward slotted end fitting said socket with its slot in registration with-the slot in said head, at least said second pin means extending through aligned holes in said head and shaft, and transversely across the slots therein, to secure said head and shaft together.

3. The arrow head of claim 1, wherein said pin comprises a headed tubular rivet extending through registered pivot holes in said first and second blades. 

1. An arrowhead having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and comprising; a tubular shank; a target penetrating point integral with said shank and flattened in a first plane through said axis, a longitudinal slot formed in said shank and the rear portion of said penetrating point; a pivot pin carried by said shank and extending transversely through said slot, and lying in the plane of said flattened penetrating point; first and second duplicate, generally right triangular, flat blades fitting in said slot, each said blade being mounted on said pivot pin in face-to-face frictional contact with each other, for pivotal movement in respectively opposite directions between first and second positions; in said first position said blades being respectively reversely mounted on said pivot pin adjacent their respective inner and rearwardmost apex as defined by the intersection of the two sides of said generally right triangle, with each having a respective cutting edge forming the hypotenuse of said generally right triangular blade extending from its respective inner and forwardmost apex to its respective outer and rearwardmost apex, with the forwardmost portions of said edges being within said slot, with cutting edges extending rearwardly and outwardly from said slot at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis, with each cutting edge on an opposite side of said first plane, and with a lug on each blade adjacent the inner and rearwardmost apex of each blade and extending outwardly from said slot on the side of said plane opposite from its respective cutting edge portion; a second pin in said head positioned rearwardly from said pivot pin and extending transversely of said slot and parallel to said pivot pin; a notch in each lug adjacent its juncture with its respective blade and arranged to engage said second pin upon pivotal movement of said blade to said second position; whereby upon penetration of said arrowhead into a tarGet, pressure on the cutting edge and lug of each of said blades causes it to pivot about said pivot pin towards the side of said plane opposite from the side on which each cutting edge respectively initially extends in said first position of the blade until the notches in said lugs engage said second pin to stop said blades with said cutting edges facing generally forward.
 2. The arrowhead of claim 1, said head including a longitudinally-extending tubular socket formed in said shank, said slot opening through the rearward end of said shank, a shaft having a forward slotted end fitting said socket with its slot in registration with the slot in said head, at least said second pin means extending through aligned holes in said head and shaft, and transversely across the slots therein, to secure said head and shaft together.
 3. The arrow head of claim 1, wherein said pin comprises a headed tubular rivet extending through registered pivot holes in said first and second blades. 